Silk screen printing table



May 13, 1941. R. a BURTON SILK SCREEN PRINTING TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 23, 1940 Y Inventor RAYMOND J. .BURTO N,

A tiorney May 13, 1941. E BURTON 2,241,844

SILK SCREEN PRINTING TABLE Filed May 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor K4 YMOND Z. BURTON,

By 2mm".

A tiorney May 13, 1941. R. E. BURTON SILK SCREEN PRINTING TABLE Filed May 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MN m R U B Z 0 N m M R A ttomey y 3, 1941. R. E. BURTON 2,241,844

SILK SCREEN PRINTING TABLE Filed May 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 EA YMO/VD Z". BUR ro/v,

By 2mm A iiorney Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE SILK SCREEN PRINTING TABLE Raymond E. Burton, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application May 23, 1940, Serial No. 336,829

I17 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in method of silk screen printing and has for its primary object to provide a table for holding the paper or cardboard under the screen during the printing operation and embodying means for automatically feeding a stack of the paper upwardly so that the uppermost sheet will occupy the desired position for engagement by the silk screen, and also embodying means for maintaining the sides of the stack in proper relation and including a removable clamping member for the top of the stack of paper adapted for movement into and out of clamping position to permit the uppermost sheet to be removed after the same has been printed.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide mechanism for simultaneously lowering the stack of paper out of printing engagement as well as to move the clamping member in an out of the Way position to permit access to the uppermost sheet of paper for removal from the table.

A still further object is to provide a movable paper feed mechanism as well as to provide adjustable guide means engaging the sides of the paper to maintain the same in stacked relation and to accommodate stacks of paper of various sizes.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in operative position and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away and shown in section,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view,

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on a line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an end elevational view,

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on a line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the movable clamping member taken substantially on a line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially on a line l'| of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a detail of the operating connection for the movable clamping member to provide a delayed action therefor, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail of the tongue and groove guide means for the adjustable guide boxes taken substantially on a line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numera1'5 designates a table supporting frame generally which includes the upright corner posts 6 rising from an open base frame I and supporting an open top frame structure 8 on the upper end of said posts. the posts 6 are connected by vertically spaced longitudinal and transverse brace members 9 and I0, respectively. Supported on the upper open frame member 8, at each corner thereof, is a substantially rectangular-shaped box-like member I l, the box members being spaced from each other and are provided on their opposed faces with grooves l2, preferably having a metallic lining I3 and within which is slidably fitted the tongues l4 formed on the outer side walls of adjustable guide members l5, likewise of substantially rectangular box-like form, the guide members l5 thus being arranged in pairs with the guides of each pair movable toward and away from each other for the purpose to be more fully hereinafter explained.

Positioned at the center of the frame 5 is the vertically adjustable table i6 supported on the upper end of a vertical frame member H, the lower end of said frame member being connected to a horizontal open frame member I8. The frame member l8 is'supported in a suspended positioned by means of a plurality of expansible coil springs I9 positioned at each end of the frame and having their lower ends connected to the horizontal frame member by means of hooks 20 and having their upper ends attached to hooks 2| anchored in the upper frame member 8.v The spring members is thus urge the table I6 upwardly into position between the guide boxes l5 so that each of the guide boxes will occupy a position alongside one edge of the table I6.

The guide box designated at 22 at one end of the frame is provided with a movable'top 23, the side edges of the top 23 being positioned inwardly of the adjacent side walls of the box so that the top may move downwardly into the guide 22. The side walls of the top are provided with trunnions 24 slidably mounted in slotted openings 25 formed in the adjacent side walls of the guide 22 to provide a sliding pivot The intermediate portion of for the top and tothe under side of the top 23 is secured a pair of brackets 28 each having a a downwardly projecting lug 2'! formed thereon provided with laterally extending pins 28 pivotally mounted in the slotted openings 29 formed in the upper bifurcated end 30 of an arm 3| secured to a rock shaft 32 having its ends journalled in bearings 33 secured to the inner side walls of the box 22.

The arms 3| normally extend vertically as shown in Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings and extending horizontally from the shaft 32 and secured thereto is a lever 34 having a sectional rod 35 attached to its outer end, the rod 35 extending downwardly through an opening 36 in the bottom of the box 22 and is attached at its lower end to the frame [8. The sectionsof the rod35 are connected by loosely fitting loops 31 as shown to advantage in Figure 8 of the drawings, and surrounding the rod 35 is an expansible coil spring 38 which has its ends attached respectively, to the lever 34 and to the frame 3.

The inner upper edge of the top 23 is formed with a lip 39 and a similar lip 40 is also formed on the inner edge at a relatively opposite side of the table 16 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

To the under side of the table 16 is attached a cable 4| extending downwardly with its lower end attached to a foot pedal 42, the rear end of the pedal being pivoted as at 43 to the lower frame member I while the front end of the pedal projects slightly forward from the front of the frame.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a stack of paper or cardboard to be printed may be placed on the upper surface of the table I 6 and the guide boxes l5 moved inwardly from the respective edge portions of the frame to maintain the paper in a stacked position. The lips 39 and 40 overlie the uppermost sheet of paper and accordingly when the foot pedal 42 is released so that the springs raise the table upwardly the sheets of paper will be tightly clamped in position on the table I 6.

Positioned on the upper surface of the boxes II and I5 is the silk screen frame 44 having the silk screen 45 mounted therein, the rear edge of the frame being hingedly connected as at 46 to the rear corner boxes I I. Also rising from the rear corner boxes II is an upright frame structure 41 having pulleys 48 at the upper portions thereof over which cables 49 are trained, one end of the cables being attached to the frame 44 while the other end of the cables are attached to a bar 50 having a weight 5| secured thereto.

The screen frame 44 is pressed downwardly by hand so that the screen 45 overlies the uppermost sheet of paper supported on the table l6 and the squeegee is then drawn across inside the screen in the usual manner. Upon releasing the screen the weight 5! will raise the same upwardly, whereupon the foot pedal 42 is depressed, which lowers the table l6, thus releasing the paper from the lips 39 and 40. At the same time the spring 38 and rod 35 actuate the shaft 32 to slide the top 23 of the box 22 out-' wardly and downwardly so that the edge of the paper adjacent the lip 39 will then be exposed to permit convenient grasping of the same by the hand of the workman to remove the same from the stack. Release of the foot pedal 42 will then raise the table l6 upwardly and move the uppermost sheet of paper into position for the next printing operation.

A pair of coil springs 52 are also mounted'on the shaft 32 with one end of each spring engaging the arm 3| while the other end of the spring engages the bearing 33 to return the shaft 32 and the top 23 into its normal position.

In the operation of the device it is important that the paper supported on the table [8 be first moved downwardly before the top 23 carrying the lip 39 is moved and accordingly, the loose connection between the sections of the rod 35 are provided so that a delayed action will ocour in the outward and downward movement of the top 23. The spring 38 is weaker than the combined strength of the springs 52, and accordingly the springs 52 will maintain the top 23 against movement until the slack of the loops 21 has been taken up to cause a positive operation of the shaft 32. However, upon a return movement, the springs 52 will cooperate to raise the top 23 upwardly in advance of the upward movement of the table I6 so that the lip 39 will be in its paper-engaging position before the stack of paper is raised upwardly.

It is believed the details of construction, operation and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a vertically movable table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, means normally urging the table upwardly against the silk screen, means for clamping the paper on the table and single means for moving the table downwardly and for moving said clamping means out of paper engaging position.

2. In a silk screen printing apparatus a vertically movable table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, guide means movable relative to the respective sides of the stack of paper, a silk screen positioned above the stack of paper, means normally urging the paper upwardly against the screen, means cooperating with the table for clamping the paper thereon and means for moving the table downwardly and for moving said clamping means out of paper engaging position.

3. In a silk screen printing apparatus a vertically movable ,table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, guide means movable relative to the respective sides of the stack of paper, a silk screen positioned above the stack of paper, means normally urging the paper upwardly against the screen, means cooperating with the table for clamping the paper thereon and common actuating means for the table and for said paper clamping means and adapted for moving the table downwardly and for subsequently mov ing the paper clamping means out of paper clamping position.

4. In a silk screen printing apparatus a vertically movable table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, guide means movable relative to therespective sides of the stack of paper, a silk screen positioned above the stack of paper, means normally urging the paper upwardly against the screen, means cooperating with the table for clamping the paper thereon, a foot pedal operatively connected to the table for moving the same downwardly and means also connecting the foot pedal to the paper clamping means for moving the latter out of paper clamping position.

5. In a silk screen printing apparatus a vertically movable table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, guide means movable relative to the respective sides of the stack of paper, a silk screen positioned above the stack of paper, means normally urging the paper upwardly against the screen, means cooperating with the table for clamping the paper thereon, a foot pedal operatively connected to the table for moving the same downwardly and operating means between the foot pedal and the paper clamping means and embodying a loose connection adapted for moving the paper clamping means out of paper clamping engagement subsequent to the downward movement of the table.

6. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, a plurality of horizontally adjustable paper guides adapted for movement relative to the edges of the stack of paper, inwardly projecting lips on a pair of opposed guides adaptedto overlie the top of the paper, means normally maintaining the table upwardly, means for lowering the table and means for retracting the lip of one oi! said opposed guides.

'7. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, a plurality of horizontally adjustable paper guides adapted for movement relative to the edges of the stack of paper, inwardly projecting lips on a pair oi. opposed guides adapted to overlie the top of the paper, means normally maintaining the table upwardly, means for lowering the table and means for moving the lip oi. one of said opposed guides horizontally and vertically out of paper engaging position.

8. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a. table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, a plurality of horizontally adjustable paper guides adapted for movement relative to the edges of the stack of paper, inwardly projecting lips on a pair of opposed guides adapted to overlie the top of the paper, means normally maintaining the table upwardly, means for lowering the table and means for subsequently retracting the lip of one of said opposed guides and moving the same downwardly out of contact with the D ne 9. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, a plurality of horizontally adjustable paper guides adapted for movement relativeto the edges 01' the stack of paper, inwardly projecting lips on a pair of opposed guides adapted to overlie the top of the paper, means normally maintaining the table upwardly, means forlowering the table and means operatively connected with said first named means for subsequently retracting the lip of one of said opposed guides and moving the same downwardly out of contact with the paper.

10. In a silkscreenvprinting apparatus, a table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, yieldable suspension means for the table,

horizontally adjustable guides for the paper, stops on a plurality of said guides engageable by the top of the paper to limit upward movement thereof, means for lowering the table and means for moving one of the stops out of paper engaging position.

11. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, yieldable suspension means for the table, horizontally adjustable guides for the paper, stops on a plurality of said guides engageable by the top of the paper to limit upward movement thereof, a pivotal support for one of the stops, means for lowering the table and means for pivotally actuating the support for said stop to move the same outwardly and downwardly with respect to the paper.

12.. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a table adapted for supporting a stack of paper thereon, yieldable suspension means for the table, horizontally adjustable guides for the paper,

stops on a plurality of said guides engageable by the top of the paper to limit upward movement thereof, a pivotal support for one of the stops, and common operating means for lowering the table and pivotally actuating the support for said stop to move the latter outwardly and downwardly with respect to the paper.

13. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a work support movable relative to a silk screen, clamping means for the work and including a mov-' able clamping member and common actuating means for moving the support away from the screen and for moving said movable clamping member away from the work to permit removal of the work from the support.

14. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a work support movable relative to a silk screen, clamping means for the work and including a movable clamping member and means operatively connecting the said movable clamping member with the support and adapted for moving the said movable clamping member away from the work to permit removal of the work from the support.

15. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a work support movable relative to a silk screen, clamping means for the work and including a movable clamping member adapted for movement horizontally toward and away from the work support and means operatively connecting the said movable clamping member with the support.

16. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a work support movable relative to a silk screen, clamping means for the work and including a movable clamping member, a rockable mounting for the movable clamping member adapted to move the latter horizontally toward and away from the work and means operatively connecting the movable clamping member with the support for actuation as a unit.

1'7. In a silk screen printing apparatus, a work support movable relative to a silk screen, clamping means for the work and including a movable clamping member actuating means for the support and a delayed operating connection between'the actuating means for the support and the movable clamping member to move the latter out of work clamping position subsequent to thev initial movement of the support away from the screen.

RAYMOND E. BURTON. 

